GRAND FORKS — On Tuesday afternoon, North Dakota Athletics announced that it would be pursuing corporate partners to create an additional revenue stream. Effective Aug. 1, 2026, NCAA member schools may display up to two trademarks or logos on team equipment and uniforms during competition, pregame, and postgame functions.
The Ruling
In late January, the NCAA voted on Division I Proposal No. 2025-35, which specifically concerned corporate or nonprofit sponsorship of uniform and team equipment items. The measure passed after being amended on Feb. 9.
The measure allows schools to display up to two trademarks or logos on uniforms and team equipment, including a manufacturer logo if one exists. As defined by the proposal, equipment must be intended for individual use.
Additionally, the Division I Cabinet made clear in a question-and-answer document that the logos or trademarks used in a single sport at a member school do not need to be adopted by other sports at the University.
In NCAA Championship competitions, each member school may use only one logo, and, if adopted, it must be consistent across all pregame, postgame, and competition appearances.
The Request
Since North Dakota opted in to the House v. NCAA settlement on July 27, 2025, its athletic programs have been faced with several new challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving arena of collegiate Name, Image, and Likeness contracts.
On Mar. 31, Fighting Hawks Sports Partnerships (FHSP) indicated that UND Athletics is actively pursuing a Request for Information (RFI) that was distributed earlier that day — a move that would strive to take advantage of the Division I Cabinet’s proposal.
“Collegiate athletics continues to evolve,” said UND Athletic Director Bill Chaves. “We are always exploring thoughtful and strategic opportunities to support our student-athletes and strengthen our programs.”
With the RFI, FHSP seeks to find businesses or organizations that might wish to sponsor sports programs at UND.
“Issuing this Request for Information on uniform patch partnerships allows us to better understand the marketplace and identify potential collaborators who align with UND’s values and brand,” Chaves remarked. “We are committed to a process that is both transparent and beneficial to the long-term success of Fighting Hawks Athletics.”
The request will allow potential sponsors to evaluate how much they would be willing to provide in financial support and indicate the sports they wish to sponsor. Also included in the RFI, as Chaves indicated, is an opportunity to identify how compatible the brand would be with UND Athletics.
In Practice
After the proposal, several Division I programs have decided to pursue uniform branding. Notably, some of these agreements only span a single sport or are generalized to a small subset of sports.
In the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sphere, numerous programs have already secured a patch sponsorship. Louisiana State University led the charge, announcing that it had inked a deal with Woodside Energy 24 days after Proposal 2025-35 passed. The sponsorship will span all 21 varsity sports at LSU next season, adorning “competition apparel,” according to a statement from the LSU Athletic Department.
One of the first non-FBS programs to receive a patch sponsorship was the University of Nebraska at Omaha men’s hockey program, agreeing to a partnership with Control Systems on Feb. 27. With Control Systems on board, Omaha became the first men’s college hockey program to implement a jersey sponsor.
On the women’s side, Wisconsin confirmed today that it would add a jersey patch to four of its varsity programs through an affiliation with UW Health. The patch will adorn jerseys for women’s basketball, hockey, volleyball, and softball — sports that could become prime advertising space in future years.
Next Steps
While the RFI is not a binding opportunity for businesses, it will help the Fighting Hawks athletic department to gauge the interest level and possible revenue that may stem from a partnership with sports programs.
The Request For Interest will formally close on May 1, allowing Bill Chaves’ Department to sort through the fielded proposals. Further action may be taken after that date, but all submissions will remain confidential, per UND Athletics.
Interested parties are encouraged to contact Troy Goldenstien, the Director of Fighting Hawks Sports Partnerships by email at [email protected], or by phone at (701) 777-5373.
Anthony Dillett is a Dakota Student Sports Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected] and on X @adillettgf.